THE ISLAND TIME FORGOT: EXPLORING EARTH'S LAST ICE AGE REFUGE

Cinemavixion Review

“The Island Time Forgot: Exploring Earth's Last Ice Age Refuge,” presented as "On Thin Ice - Expedition Into The Russian Arctic," is a compelling documentary that ventures into the remote and seldom-seen Wrangel Island in the Russian Arctic. Directed by Manuel Hammelsbeck and Ulrike Hallas, this film unveils a unique ecological sanctuary, a place that, remarkably, remained unglaciated during the last Ice Age. This historical anomaly has rendered it a vital refuge for a diverse array of arctic flora and fauna, a status recognized by its designation as the most northern UNESCO World Heritage Site. Access to this pristine environment is strictly limited, underscoring its delicate nature. The documentary vividly portrays the island's inhabitants, from the iconic polar bears, with approximately 400 females giving birth there annually, to musk oxen, walruses, whales, and even smaller creatures like ground squirrels and butterflies. It highlights not only the wonder and uniqueness of this ecosystem but also its precarious state, emphasizing the profound and alarming impacts of climate change on the island, its wildlife, and the broader global biosphere. The film serves as both an ode to a fragile paradise and a stark warning about its future.